Five schools in the Diocese honored with National Blue Ribbon Award

Calling it “an extraordinary accomplishment for the Diocese,” Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., congratulated five Catholic schools of the Diocese of Trenton that received word Oct 1 that they had achieved the coveted “2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools” designation from the U.S. Department of Education.

St. Catharine, Spring Lake, Robert Dougherty, principal; St. Dominic, Brick, Carol Bathmann, principal; St. James, Red Bank, JoAnn Giordano, principal; St. Jerome, West Long Branch, Filippini Sister Angelina Pelliccia, principal, and St. Leo the Great, Lincroft, Neil Begley, principal, each received word around 1 p.m.

“You are amazing!” Bishop O’Connell wrote in his letter of congratulations, and extended congratulations to diocesan Schools superintendent JoAnn Tier, Vicar for Catholic Education Franciscan Father Gabriel Zeis, and their colleagues in the Department of Catholic Schools for the national recognition. The Bishop also recognized the administrations, pastors, parish priests, faculties and staff of the five schools honored this year, and issued a personal message to the Catholic families of the Diocese.

To read the full press-release about the National Blue Ribbon Schools award, click here.

To read Bishop O'Connell's full statement, click here.

To watch the video announcement from U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, click here.

For continuing coverage on this announcement continue to check back with TrentonMonitor.com.